Direction signaling device



Sept 26, 1933- J. w. MARTIN ET Al. 1,928,315

DIRECTION S IGNALING DEVICE Filed April 17, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 f bf 7 Sept' 26 1933 J. w. MARTIN ET AL 1,928,315

DIRECTION SIGNALING DEVICE d n A-Y 1 4.

P o d d 4 7 XII/41,1@ magg! KQ LINEN Sept 26, 1933- J. w. MARTIN ET AL 1,928,315

DIRECTION SIGNALING DEVICE Filed April 17, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Sept' 26, 1933- K J. w. MARTIN ET A1. 1,928,315

DIRECTION SIGNALING DEVICE Filed April 17, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 g'rvuentou.

Patented Sept. 26, 1933 PATENT OFFICE DIRECTION SIGNALING DEVICE John Winter Martin, Ernest William Manning, .and Jess Anthony Manning, Portland, Oreg., assignors of one-half to said John Winter Martin, and one-half to Harry William Manning,

Portland, Oreg.

Application April 17, 1930. Serial No. 445,049

10 Claims.

Our invention relates to an electric direction signaling device of the character disclosed in our application for patent entitled'Direction signal device, filed November 20, 1928, Serial No. 320,-

5 642, and allowed October 22, 1929.

The object of our present invention is to attain further simplicity of construction, with a view to manufacture; and to insure efficiency in operation.

Our signaling device is intended to be automatic in operation, in the sense that it requires no attention of the driver. Nevertheless, it is found that an auxiliary, manually operated signaling means is desired to be incorporated in the mechanically operated signaling means. This, however, introduces a factor of uncertainty, and possible confusion, for if the manual signal be vinadvertently given-as for example by a child sitting in the front seat .moving the manual signal without it being `noticed by the driver-or the manual signal be wrongfully given, in consequence of which the signal does not indicate the intention of the driver, who, we will assume proceeds on a straightway course after an intention to turn has been signalled, the wrong signal, if permitted to continue for any length of time, would workto the confusion of other drivers in the lane of travel.

Hence, the rst object of our invention is to provide an auxiliary and manual switch which is immediately returned to neutral position upon the subsequent manipulation of the steering wheel necessary to hold the automobile in a straightway course. Thus, if a signal manually 05 given expresses the intention of the driver, the subsequent turning of the steering wheel in that direction continues the signal, although the manual signal itself be thrown back into neutral; while if the signal was inadvertently or wrongfully given, the subsequent manipulation of the steering wheel to keep the automobile on a straightway course would again return the manual' signal element to neutraland thus extinguish the signal thereby given.

- A further object of our invention is to provide a manual switch adapted only to be operative when the steering wheel is in approximately its straight ahead position, whereby a signal once having been automatically given, it cannot be I subsequently confused by a wrongful operation of the manual switch.

A still further object of our invention is to provide for the manual switch element, spring contacts normally spaced and thus interrupted. vTo vattain simplicity of construction and sensiconstruction tiveness in operation in the manual switch Awe prefer to use a ribbon spring. The life of such spring tends, however, to be shortened by frequent uses, if the bending of the spring constantly occurs'at approximately the same point. We, therefore, so arrange this' spring that its flexings will, in operation, be more or less distributed along its entire length.

Further objects of our invention are to provide compactness in our signal device; also so to arrange the switch elements to prevent shorts in the circuits of the electric signals.

The mode in which we attain the above specified results and other features incidental thereto is hereinafter fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 shows aside elevation of our direction signal device mounted on the steering wheel post of an automobile, and illustrates the electric circuits controlled thereby;

Figs. la, lb, and lc show diagrammatically the respective positions assumed by the manual switch member and movable switch member and illustrate the operation thereof;

` Fig. 2 shows on a larger scale a side elevation of the other side of our direction signal device,

than shown in Fig. 1, and removed from the steer- Fig. 4 shows a section taken on the line 4--4 90 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 shows a plan section view of our signaling device taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 shows a side .elevation of the stationary 95 switch member and manual switch member removed from the rest of the device;

Fig. 'l shows a section taken on the line '7-7 vof, Fig.- 3, the figure having been rotated through Ian arc of 180 degrees, and illustrates the details 100 ber removed from the device but without the electrical contacts;

Fig. 12 shows the electrical contacts of the xed switch member;

Fig, 13 shows a perspective View of the brush or contact block carried by the movable switch member; and y Fig. 14 shows diagrammatically how the manual switch member is rendered inoperative by the rotation of the movable switch member, by the operation of the steering Wheel.

Our direction signal device consists of a casing a secured to the steering post b o! a motor vehicle just below the steering wheel c, by means of suitable shackles d, with one side of the body of the casing parallel with the axis of the steering post, the said side being concaved so as to conform with the curvature of the said post.

A ring-like member e is secured to the steering wheel as at e', and is provided with internal gear` teeth f.

A shaft'or spindle i is journaled in the body of said casing as at i', see Fig. 8, its upper end projecting through the casing and such end carries a pinion j meshing with said internal gear teeth f. The lower end of the shaft i is journaled in a thrust bearing i2 adjustable by means of a set screw i3 by which free longitudinal movement of the shaft may be taken up. The portion of the shaft or spindle i between its journal bearings is provided with a worm k preferably provided with left hand threads. A stub shaft m is journaled in one side of the casing body a and a worm gear n is carried by the said shaft, in mesh with the said worm k.

The outer end of the shaft m is provided with a head m on which is a mark m2, adapted for registration with a similar mark a on the outer surface of the casing a, so that the relative positions of the inclosed mechanism may be conveniently adjusted, see Fig. 2.

A circular disc o of insulating material, as bake-lite constituting a movable switch member is concentrically mounted on the worm gear n and is provided with an eccentric integral boss p on its periphery. A metal contact bar or brush q is loosely carried in a'radially disposed cavity p provided in said boss p, see Figs. 3 and 9. Small coil springs q serve to hold the contact-bar q projecting from the boss p (sec Fig. 9), thus assuring contact with the contacts t, s, s', s2 hereinafter further described, and compensating for looseness which may develope in the gearing. Furthermore, the contact face of the contact bar q is beveled on its lateral edges as shown in Fig. 13, so that its width will permit a predetermined amount of movement without making contact with either of the lateral contacts s or s2. The said taper further tends to cause said bearing face to be broadened by wear, and thus compensate for any lost motion of the gearing, due' to wear of its members.

Mounted on the removable side a2 of the casing a oppostely to the disc o is an insulated disc or box r comprising the iixed switch member (see Figs. 10 and 11), which carries concentric contacts t, s, s', s2 centered to correspond with the center of the worm gear n, see Fig. 9. The contact t is circular and the contacts s, s', s2 are arranged concentrically about the contact t, the lateral contacts s, s2 being segmental and extending for about 165 degrees on each side of the contact t, but being A spaced therefrom. The middle contact s' is relatively short, about 12 degrees of are and is arranged between, but spaced from, the ends of the contacts s', s2 at the top.

The circuit wires 2, 3, 4, 5 are connected to the said contacts as at 2a, 3a, 4a and 5a, respectively (see Fig. 10) the circuit wires being extended into the casing through a slot a3 in the bottom of the casing.

By this construction and arrangement, a very compact switch is provided which, being entirely embedded in insulating material, prevents the possibilities of short circuits of the current and also simplifies the wiring of the switch and its connections.

The circuit 2 is connected to a. source of electric energy v. 'Ihe circuit 3 is connected to the front and rear signals 30 and 30a comprising incandescent bulbs and lenses of a distinctive color, and/or shape for indicating a left turn, Fig. 1.

The circuit 5 is connected to similar signals 31, 31a provided preferably with a lense of another distinctive color and/or shape, arranged on the right side of the signals 30, 30a looking in the direction of travel of the motor vehicle.

The circuit 4 is similarly connected to other signals 32, 32a, provided preferably with a lense different in color and/or shape from those previously described, and is located between the elements 30, 30a and 31, 31a, to function to orient the other signals when actuated.

To properly adjust our signal device, when it is being attached to a motor vehicle, the match mark m2 on the shaft m and the mark a on the side of the casing a are positioned to register in which position the contact bar q carried by the boss p will be in its intermediate position, bearing on the switch member s and throwing on the orienting signals 32, 32a, Fig. 2.

In the operation of our invention, which is essentially automaticwhen the motor vehicle is moving straight ahead and the boss p is positioned so that the contact bar q has contact with the lateral contact s the circuit 4 is closed and the orienting signals 82, 32a (Fig. 1) are thrown on as shown by Fig. 9.

When a turn is to be made say to the left, the

the middle segmental contact s to the lateral contact s, thus closing the circuit 3 and illuminating the signals 30, 30a. (Fig. 1) to indicate a left turn and simultaneously breaking the circuit 4, discontinuing the guide or orienting signals, 32, 32a.

When the turn is completed and the steering wheel is rotated back to the straight ahead position, the contact bar q is again positioned to make contact with segmental middle contact s', thus breaking the circuit 3 and again closing the circuit 4, which discontinues the left turn signal 30, 30a and again illuminates the signal 32, 32a indieating a straight ahead course.

The operation oi' the right turn signal is similar, the contact being made by the contact bar q with the lateral contact s2.

By this construction and arrangement, none of the operations of the steering wheel necessary to hold the motor vehicle on a straight ahead course, will actuate the direction signals.

In short, the cooperating switch elements are so arranged that the movement of the steering wheel about twelve degrees, and thereby the guiding or steering ground wheels of the automobile about one degree, to either side o1' a straight course, will not throw on either direction signal, such fas Teo

lpermitted Amovement of the steering wheel being `sufficient under the present generally used steering mechanism to keep the automobile on a straight course.

B utv the amount of such. permitted movement may-beincreas'ed by filing the sides of the con- .tact `bari'qrto reduce the width of its outer face;

- Furthermorefthe ratio of the gearing between the movement of the steering wheel and that of the disc o is 'so' arranged that the extreme rotation which maybe given to the steering wheel in one directiony will not move the contact bar q from one of the lateral contacts s or s2 to the other,vand thus confuse the given signals in such operation ofthe steering wheel. Also, by prorvidinga Aleft hand-worm k, the movement of the `disc r and contact bar q will be relatively to the fixed switch member in the same direction as the `direction signal given by the signal element,

hence further simplifying the operation of our invention.

Furthermore, in order to prevent our signal device from being inadvertently left on when the automobile -is standing and the front steering wheels are turned toward the curb, for instance, we connect the circuit 2 from the battery v in the ignition circuit :c of the engine, so that when `the engine is turned off and the automobile is standing, our signal device will be inoperative.

`If it is desirable to maintain the guide signals 32, 32a in constant illumination to serve as means for actuating our signaldevice. These change the circuits of the guide signals 32, 32a

l to connect it directly with the circuit 2 and the source of electric energy o; in which case the contact s will be dead and serves merely as an inactive resting point for the contact bar or brush q.

We will now describe the manually operable means for autuating our signal device. These means are supplementary to the means which are operated through the steering wheel as above described.y The manual means are contrived to be immediately returned to neutral position upon any subsequent manipulation of the steering wheel necessary to hold the vehicle in a straight ahead course, so that in case a signal of the intention to turn is inadvertently, or wrongly given, it will be automatically corrected. But if the signalto turn be intentionally and correctly given, then the signal will be continued by the subsequent operation of the steering wheel.

The manual signal operating means comprise a manual bell-crank lever 40 `pivoted to the removable side a2 of the casing a adjacent the top, so that the shorter end 40h projects into the f casing through an opening 41, and is engaged in a recess42 of the rockable member 43, of insulating material. The memberk 43 is centrally piv- Loted on a pin 44, secured in the side a2 of the casing a above the rotatable disc o. A tension spring 4b is mounted over the pin 44 and bears against the'said rockable member, and a nut 44a isthreaded on the end of the latter. Washers 44lcare provided on each side the spring 44h to prevent the same from engaging at its ends with theA` nut 44a or the rockable member 43. By

these means, the tension of the spring is adjustable and the movement of the member 43 is restrained so as not to be accidentally moved by the vibration of the automobile or other causes.

Spaced, downwardly projecting lugs 45, 45a are provided on each side of the pivot point of the rockable member 43, which are adapted to bear respectively in spaced recesses 46, 46a, in the rotatable disc o, when the steering wheel is in straight ahead position and one side or the other of the rockable member 43 is depressed by the lever 40.

Spring, V-shaped conductor arms 47, 47a. (see Fig. 10) are secured, at their ends within the interior of the disc o, to the contact t connected with the source of power. Said conductor arms are extended through openings in the side of the disc and curve over the sides of its periphery so as to overlie the contacts 48, 48a connected respectively with the contacts s, s2. By forming the conductor arms in this manner the bending strain will be distributed along substantially the whole of the curved portion, and thus the spring contacts will not tend to be weakened, and eventually broken by the continuous bending in use, as would be the case were an angular bend provided in the said contacts.

Further, by arranging the contacts s, s2 on the outside of the contact t the supplemental contacts 48, 48a are conveniently secured to the periphery of the disc o and connected to the said contacts s, s2 which simplifies the wiring of the electric contacts and reduces the possibility of a short circuit or the like.

By these means, a signal once having been given by the manipulation of the steering wheel cannot be subsequently confused by a manual signal wrongly or inadvertently given, since a manipulation of the steering wheel, suicient to indicate a turn, will rotate the disc o approximately ve degrees and thereby move the recesses 46, 46a out of registration with the lugs 45, 45a of the manually operated rockable member 43, thus blocking any movement of the latter, as illustrated in Fig. 14, and which renders the manual switch inoperative.

However, the ratio of the gear f to the worm gear n is such that a five degree rotation of the steering wheel will cause only a one degree rotation of the disc o, which is negligible; and, therefore, any rotation of the steering wheel of less than five degrees will not place the lugs 45, 45a out of registration with the recesses 46, 46oJ in the disc o. In other words, the steering wheel need not be in exactly straight ahead position to permit the throwing on of the manual signal.

Further, to indicate manually a right turn signal, the manual lever 40 is moved to the right, which causes the extremity 4327 of the rock* able member 43 to depress the spring conductor arm 47a until in contact with the supplementary contact 48a, where it is held by the tension of the coil spring 44o on the pin 44, thereby closing the circuit 5 and throwing on the right turn signal elements 31, 31a. And the subsequent rotation of the steering-wheel to make the turn will merely complement the said operation of the manual signal, and the consequent rotation of the disc o will force the lug 45a outof the recess 46a, and thus return the manually operated rockable member 43 to its neutral position.

However, in order that a wrong or inadvertent signal will be automatically discontinued by the manipulation of the steering wheel necessary to hold the automobile in an approximately straight ahead course, we have formed the recesses 46, 46a or the disc o, somewhat larger, and arranged them somewhat closer together than the lugs 45, 45a, (see Figs. la, and 3) so that when a manual signal has been given, for example to the right, the lug 45a will bear against the right Wall of the recess 46a (see Fig. 1a) and any subsequent rotation of the steering wheel, and therewith the disc o to the left, necessary to hold the automobile in approximately straight ahead course, will at once force the lug 45a upward and out of the recess 46a (see Fig. 1c) hence breaking the circuit 5 and extinguishing the signals 3l, 31a, and returning the rockable member 43 to neutral position.

When a signal has been correctly and intentionally given, the rotation of the steering wheel and disc o will be complementary to the direction of the manual signal (see Fig. 1b) and the lug 45a will ride in the recess46a for approximately three degrees of travel or fteen degrees of the steering wheel, before the left wall of the recess 46a will come into Contact with the lug 45a and push the lug upwardly to discontinue the manual signal; but at this time the contact bar q will have been moved onto the contacts s2, thus maintaining the circuit 5 closed and the signal elements 3l, 31a, in operation.

We claim:

1. In an electric direction signal for automobiles, a switch carried by the steering post to make and break the signal circuits, said switch comprising a iixed member and a rotatable, circular member, the rotatable member being operatively connected with the steering Wheel, supplemental contacts in said circuits, an auxiliary manual rockable member adapted when rocked in either direction to close one of said supplemental contacts, said rotatable switch member and said manual switch member provided with cooperating lugs and recesses, said lugs arranged to enter said recesses, and thus permit the operation of said manual member, only when the steering wheel is positioned for a straight ahead course.

2. In an electric direction signal for automobiles, a switch carried by the steering post to make and break the signal circuits, said switch comprising a xed member and a rotatable, circular member, the rotatable member being operatively connected with the steering wheel, supplemental contacts in said circuits, an auxiliary manual rockablemember adapted when rocked in either direction to close one of said supplemental contacts, said rotatable switch member and said manual switch member provided with cooperating lugs and recesses, said lugs arranged to enter said recesses,` and thus permit vithe operation of said manual member, only when the steering wheel is positioned for a straight ahead course, said recesses and said lugs further relatively arranged to permit a limited rotation of the steering wheel in the samedirection in which said manually operable member has been set without affecting the latter.

3. In an electric direction signal for automobiles, a switch carried by the steering post to make and break the signal circuits, said switch comprising a xed member and a rotatable, circular member, the rotatable member being operatively connected with the steering wheel, supplemental contacts in said circuits, an auxiliary manual rockable member adapted when rocked in either direction to close one of said supplemental contacts, said rotatable switch member and said manual switch member provided with vcooperating lugs and recesses, said lugs arranged to enter said recesses, and thus permit the operation of said manual member only when the steering wheel is positioned for a straight ahead course and so that the subsequent operation of the steering wheel will return said manual member to its initial position.

4. In an electric direction signal for automobiles, a switch carried by the steering post, to make and break the signal circuits, said switch comprising xed and rotatable members, the rotatable member being operatively connected with the steering Wheel, one of said switch members comprising a circular insulating body carrying a central, Vinterior annular contact, and exterior concentric segmental contacts in said circuits, the said interior contact being connected with the source of electricity, said external contacts provided with supplemental radially disposed extensions to the periphery of said insulating body, the said interior contact being provided with supplemental contacts whose tree ends overlie said rst mentioned supplemental contacts, and a manually rockable member whose ends when rocked in either direction depress one of said overlying contacts and thus close one ot said circuits.

5. In an electric direction signal for automobiles, a switch carried by the steering post to make and break the signal circuits, said switch comprising xed and rotatable members, the rotatable member being operatively connected with the steering wheel, one of said switch members comprising a circular insulating body carrying a central, interior annular contact, and exterior concentric segmental contacts in said circuits, the said interior contact being connected with the source of electricity, said external contacts provided with supplemental radially disposed extensions to the periphery 0i' said insulating body, the said interior contact being provided with supplemental contacts whose free ends overlie said first mentioned supplemental contacts, such contacts being elongate and V- shaped to mitigate the wear of repeated exing, and a manualy rockable member whose ends when rocked in either direction depress one o! said overlying contacts and thus close one of said circuits.

6. In an electric direction signal for automobiles, a a switch carried by the steering post to make and break the signal circuits, said switch comprising a fixed member and a rotatable, circular member, the rotatable member being operatively connected with the steering wheel, supplemental contacts in said circuits, an auxiliary manual rockable member adapted when rocked in either direction to close one of said supplemental contacts, said rotatable switch member provided on its periphery with spaced recesses, and said manual member provided at each of its ends with lugs arranged to enter said recesses and thus permit the operation of said manual member, only when the steering wheel is positioned for a straight-ahead course.

7. In an electric direction signal for automobiles, a switch carried by the steering post to make and break the signal circuits, said switch Acomprising a xed member and a rotatable, circular member, the rotatable member being operatively connected with the steering wheel, supplemental contacts in said circuits, an auxiliary manual rockable member adapted when rocked in either direction to close one of said Supplemental contacts, said rotatable switch member provided on its periphery with spaced recesses, and said manual member` provided at each of its ends with lugs arranged to enter said recesses, and thus permit the operation of said manual member, only when the steering Wheel is positioned for a straight-ahead course and so that the subsequent operation of the steering wheel will return said manual member to its initial position.

8. In an electric direction signal for automobiles, a switch carried by the steering post to make and break the signal circuits, said switch comprising a iixed member and a rotatable, circular member, the rotatable member being operatively connected with the steering wheel, supplemental contacts in said circuits, an auxiliary manual rockable member adapted when rocked in either direction to close one of said supplemental contacts, said rotatable switch member provided on its periphery With spaced recesses, and said manual member provided at each of its ends with lugs arranged to enter said recesses, and thus permit the operation of said manual member only when the steering wheel is positioned for a straight-ahead course, said recesses and said lugs further relatively arranged to permit a limited rotation of the steering wheel in the same direction in which said manually operable member has been set Without affecting the latter.

9. In an electric direction signal for automobiles, a switch carried by the steering post to make and break the signal circuits, said switch comprising a fixed member and a rotatable, circular member, the rotatable member being operatively connected with the steering Wheel, supplemental contacts in said circuits, an auxiliary manual rockable member adapted when rocked in either direction to close one of said supplemental contacts, said rotatable switch member provided on its periphery with spaced recesses, and said manual member provided at each of its ends with lugs arranged to enter said recesses and thus permit the operation of said manual member, only when the steering Wheel is positioned for a straight-ahead course and so that the subsequent operation of the steering wheel will return said manual member to its initial position, said recesses and said lugs further relatively arranged to permit a limited rotation of the steering wheel in the same direction in which said manually operable member has been set without ailecting the latter.

10. In an electric direction signal for automobiles, a switch carried by the steering post to make and break the signal circuits, said switch comprising a xed member and a rotatable, circular member, the rotatable member being operatively connected with the steering wheel, supplemental contacts in said circuits, an auxiliary manual rockable member adapted when rocked in either direction to close one of said supplemental contacts, said rotatable switch member provided on its periphery with spaced recesses, and said manual member provided at each of its ends with lugs arranged to enter said recess and thus permit the operation of said manual member only when the steering wheel is positioned for a straight-ahead course, and the periphery of said rotatable switch member adapted to pre- Vent the operation of said rockable member except when the lugs of the latter are in position to enter said recesses.

JOHN WINTER MARTIN. ERNEST WILLIAM MANNING. JESS ANTHONY MANNING. 

